Release of a United Nations report on Israel’s deadly raid that killed nine Turkish activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla last year will be postponed until late August. The U.N. confirmed the delay Monday, giving Israel and Turkey more time to work out their differences. The report by a U.N. panel of experts was expected […]
Israeli Orchestra to Perform Piece by Hitler’s Favorite Composer
Posted July 25th, 2011 at 9:50 am (UTC-5)
An Israeli orchestra is preparing to perform a work by Richard Wagner at a festival in Germany, despite a long-standing informal ban on such performances inside the Jewish state. The Israel Chamber Orchestra is due to play Wagner’s “Siegfried Idyll” on Tuesday, during an annual opera festival in the southeastern German town of Bayreuth, the […]
Abbas: UN Statehood Recognition Is Only Choice
Posted July 23rd, 2011 at 1:15 pm (UTC-5)
President Mahmoud Abbas says Palestinians had no choice but to seek statehood recognition through the United Nations after negotiations with Israel stalled. He commented on Saturday at a meeting with international envoys that is being hosted by Turkey. Mr. Abbas added that seeking statehood recognition did not have to prevent a resumption in talks, which […]
Turkey: No Normalizing Israeli Ties Without Apology
Posted July 23rd, 2011 at 6:25 am (UTC-5)
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey will not normalize relations with Israel until Israel apologized for its deadly raid on a flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip last year. Mr. Erdogan said Saturday Israel also should pay compensation to the families of the Turkish victims killed in the raid and lift the […]
Netanyahu to Arab TV: Israel Ready to Negotiate ‘Everything’
Posted July 21st, 2011 at 1:00 pm (UTC-5)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Arabic television network Al-Arabiya that he is ready to put “everything on the table” if Palestinians agree to renew peace talks. In a rare interview with an Arab news organization broadcast Thursday, Mr. Netanyahu also says he is willing to negotiate anywhere and with anyone who accepts Israel’s […]
Jailed Palestinian Leader Urges Rallies for Independence
Posted July 20th, 2011 at 10:50 am (UTC-5)
A Palestinian leader jailed by Israel is urging Palestinians at home and abroad to stage mass rallies in September to support a bid to gain U.N. membership for an independent Palestine. In a letter published Wednesday in Palestinian media, Marwan Barghouti calls for “millions” of Palestinians to demonstrate peacefully in Palestinian communities, Arab and Muslim […]
EU Denounces Israeli Plans for New Settlement Homes
Posted July 19th, 2011 at 10:40 pm (UTC-5)
The European Union has denounced Israeli plans to build hundreds of new apartments in two Jewish West Bank settlements, saying it is “deeply disappointed” in a move that threatens regional peace efforts. The EU said Tuesday that such actions run counter to repeated efforts by the international community to achieve a peaceful solution to the […]
Israel Tows Gaza Activists’ Yacht to Port
Posted July 19th, 2011 at 2:55 pm (UTC-5)
Israel’s navy has towed a French yacht carrying pro-Palestinian activists to an Israeli port after stopping the activists’ attempt to break Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. Israeli seized the Dignity al-Karama in the Mediterranean and towed it to Ashdod’s port on Tuesday. Israeli officials say the activists will be deported. Sixteen people, including […]
Israeli Military Boards Gaza-Bound Yacht
Posted July 19th, 2011 at 6:40 am (UTC-5)
The Israeli navy has boarded a French yacht carrying pro-Palestinian activists who were trying to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The military said the navy took control of the Dignity al-Karama on Tuesday, and was taking it to the Israeli port of Ashdod. There were no immediate reports of any violence. The […]
Israeli Military Contacts Gaza-Bound Yacht
Posted July 19th, 2011 at 4:50 am (UTC-5)
The Israeli military says it has made contact with a French yacht carrying pro-Palestinian activists trying to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The military said it contacted the Dignity al-Karama on Tuesday and warned the vessel the leave the area. The yacht is the only vessel remaining from a flotilla that pro-Palestinian […]
